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Whether it's Minnesota Severe Weather Awareness Week to an investigation, the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office plans to share information more prominently via social media. The sheriff's office launched its official Facebook page April 6. The sheriff's office was under the umbrella of the Crow Wing County's Facebook page, but decided after much research to have its own page. Capt. Scott Goddard of the sheriff's office, who is administering the page, said the sheriff's office found a model they like for their Facebook page.

After more than two years without answers, Marc Welzant's family on Monday got the chance to say their goodbyes at his funeral service at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd. Welzant's family spent 29 months searching, praying and hoping Marc would be found. Welzant went missing on the afternoon of Oct. 26, 2014, when he left his group home in Brainerd. His remains were found March 25 south of Brainerd.

All 10 faces on the Crow Wing County's Most Wanted list for February are new. As of Friday, there were an estimated 970 total active warrants in the county, up from 958 in February. On the Most Wanted list this month are: Brittany Ann Beaulieu, Kristine Ann Boser, Nicholas James Cluever, Luke Ryan Doud, Hannah Belle Elgard, Cassandra Marie Fox, Rebecca Leann Nordby, Donald Eugene Pratt, Jeremy Carl Specht and Amanda Michelle Warbonnet.

Students who attend Brainerd Public Schools who live three-tenths of a mile from their school will have the option to take the bus next school year. The Brainerd School Board Monday, in a special school board meeting, voted to change the district's transportation walking boundary from one mile to three-tenths of a mile, meaning students who live within three-tenths of a mile from school are eligible for transportation to and from school.

The Brainerd School Board Monday voted against the administration's recommendation to hire a consultant aimed at helping the district possibly obtain additional funding for the school's comprehensive long-range facilities plan.

Theo Knudson Grade: Senior. Age: 18. Art focus: Brainerd High School choir. Adviser nomination: "Theo is in All State Choir, A Cappella, Windfall, Bards and a Solo Ensemble superior section leader. Theo does it all. His work is always strong and his leadership make us all better. Theo is a big reason for the success of this year's choirs." Memorable fine arts achievement: "Getting into All-State Choir this year. I had to audition last spring and this past fall was the camp." Other fine arts activities: Knowledge Bowl.

BAXTER—Meet Rossi. This four-legged Belgian Malinois has big paws to fill as he is in training to be the top dog on the Baxter Police Department's K-9 team. Rossi will succeed K-9 Gator, who plans to retire at the end of this year.

Fire danger is upon us and with Wildfire Prevention Week beginning Sunday—it is a perfect time to remind residents to be on alert and careful with their fire activities. Close to 400 wildfires have already ignited this spring in Minnesota—including several in the Brainerd lakes area that burned just over 1,000 acres, reported the Minnesota Interagency Fire Center. The fire center is part of the Minnesota Incident Command System, which is an interagency group with state and federal partners that cooperate in management of wildfire and all risk incidents.

The man accused of the murder of 5-year-old Alayna Jeanne Ertl on Wednesday asked a judge to dismiss the charge. Zachary Todd Anderson, 26, Coon Rapids, appeared in Cass County District Court in Walker with his public defender for a contested omnibus hearing in front of Judge Jana M. Austad. A contested omnibus hearing is a pretrial hearing dealing with admissibility of evidence where the judge decides whether the case proceeds to trial, as stated under the Minnesota Court Rules.